A method and system of providing data service according to a user's future location

Abstract

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for controlling data service for a vehicle-based user of a telecommunication network. The method comprising: retrieving data associated with location behaviour of the user within the network; predicting, based on said data and on a current user location within the network, a future user location within the network; performing a determination of network capability at the future user location; and modifying, in response to the determination, a configuration of the network and / or a service parameter associated with the user. A network element, system and computer program product are also provided.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Operators of cellular telecommunications networks are ever trying to improve the efficiency of the networks and optimise network performance as poor customer experience and service loss can result in customer dissatisfaction. In conventional cellular telecommunications networks, when the user is requesting a data service, such as downloading an application or streaming audio or video data, the quality of service provided to that user is directly related to network conditions for example radio coverage and delay. If the user moves into a white spot while requesting data service, for example while travelling in a car or on a train, the data service may be interrupted (i.e. will stop receiving the data service until coverage is recovered) or may be lost completely as the data link may be damaged. A white spot is a term used in the art to describe a geographical region lacking radio coverage. Such a loss of data service results in customer dissatisfaction and often custo...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]In determining future location in this way the method is able to accurately determine future location. For example, the method is able to predict whether a user travelling in a vehicle while requesting data service and approaching a junction will turn left, right or continue straight on without receiving substantial information from the device. Known methods must assume a constant direction of travel. Further, the method is able to accurately predict long term future location as well as location in the immediate future so that modifications can be appropriately planned and the effects of the modifications accurately predicted.

[0011]In some embodiments, the user can be a single network subscriber. In some embodiments, the user can comprise a vehicle-based gateway. The gateway may be configured to provide access to the telecommunications (mobile) network to at least one (and preferably a plurality of) subscriber terminals (User Equipment, UE), user device or other types of device, on-board the vehicle. The gateway may act as a form of mobile relay node or vehicle coverage node. In particular, the gateway may be configured to store and / or buffer data transmitted by the network. This may improve the subscriber experience, for example in ways that will be discussed below. Where the user is a gateway, one or more than one subscriber or other user may access the network through the gateway. This may be in a way that is transparent to the network (such that the network is able to identify the subscribers or user devices accessing the network through the gateway) or in a way that is hidden from the network (for example, the network may simply see the gateway as a single user device, although the gateway may, in fact, be acting as a traffic conduit for multiple user devices. An advantage of this architecture may be a reduction in signalling overhead between the vehicle and the network.

[0014]The modifying step may also be optionally performed based on a data service requested by the user. For example, if the data service is a streaming service, certain actions may be performed to ensure the stream is not lost whereas if the data service is email then other actions may be taken in order to mitigate effects on other users.

[0020]Further, the modifying step may comprise identifying that the user is a priority user and / or adjusting a priority of the user. This may include increasing a scheduling priority of the user at the network.

Problems solved by technology

For example, certain types of users may be limited to a defined (and possibly limited) range of locations, such as train-based users.

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